REVIEW | GuyMart, King’s Head Theatre
★ ★ ★ ★
Reviewer - Bronagh
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
The idea of a supermarket full of men ready to be chosen for a hook-up is very different, and actually not too dissimilar to doom-scrolling dating apps. Guymart introduces this idea and follows Matt as he takes his place in the supermarket on his quest to find ‘the one’, encountering disappointment and doubts of self worth on the way.
George Lacey’s writing and Richard Seaman’s score are both brilliant and truly capture the twisted undertones of Guymart and the psychological effects on Matt. As previously mentioned, this isn’t too dissimilar to scrolling dating apps, and the effect meaningless relations can have on a person – the awkward initial small talk, the ghosting, the rejection. This isn’t foreign to many people, making Guymart more relatable than what presents on the surface.
The interactions between the cast and audience was a favourite of mine, and done in a way that wasn’t awkward like some audience interactions. This was a mix of jokes, and often inappropriate comments which certainly got laughs from the audience. Again, this helped to build a connection and served as a reminder of the relatability of Guymart.
The four person cast were brilliant and totally embodied their characters, effortlessly and wonderfully. They delve into the different layers explored, from actual heartwarming romance to sexual exploitation and the after effects. The raw, disturbing reality underneath the bright lights and gaudiness of Guymart, and of dating apps. The themes are explored delicately, truly letting the characters’ vulnerabilities known and not hidden away. The music and lyrics compliment this extremely well, and was an enjoyable part of the show.
My only criticism is technical and has no bearing on the cast, writing or music – although the performance area is small, I still found it hard to hear what was being said/sang at some points as it didn’t look like the cast were wearing microphones. This didn’t dampen my enjoyment, and didn’t seem to effect anyone else’s either!
Overall I enjoyed Guymart and could have watched this well beyond the hour that it shows for. Guymart is very original and enjoyable, with the whole audience captivated. I could certainly see this in a bigger space for even more people to enjoy.
